Disruptive Energy Futures, with Amory Lovins

Fifty years ago, Amory Lovins published “Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken,” a groundbreaking essay in Foreign Affairs that challenged the status quo national policy of more oil, more gas and more nuclear. Lovins differentiated between “hard” and “soft” energy, with the latter focused on renewables rather than fossil fuels, a lower cost system that would also foster energy and national security, reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases and decentralize the country’s supply system. Over the following decades, Lovins came to be known and renowned around the world for his research, writing and prognostications.

Join Lovins and the Sustainable Systems Research Foundation at a reception and public talk on Thursday, November 5th, 2026, from 5-8:30 PM. Tickets are (free; $10) but registration is required.

Lovins is Cofounder (1982) and Chairman Emeritus, and was Chief Scientist (2007–19), of RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute, www.rmi.org), where he continues to collaborate. Since 1973 he has advised major firms and governments in >70 countries on advanced energy efficiency and strategy, linked with renewables, grid integration, resources, environment, security, development, and economy. He is recipient of numerous awards, 12 honorary doctorates and Germany’s highest civilian honor (the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit), among others. A Harvard and Oxford dropout, former Oxford don, honorary US architect, Swedish engineering academician, and 2011–18 member of the US National Petroleum Council, he has taught at ten universities. In 2009, Time named him one of the world’s 100 most influential people; Foreign Policy, one of the 100 top global thinkers; and Stanford's Scopus analysis, in the top 2% of world scientists.